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**metropropuskruww** · 06-13-2008, 04:11 PM

Turkey, last I heard, was vying for membership in the EU, so hopefully the Europeans will show some backbone and bar them from entering unless they start easing up on the Christian minority (which is apparently now 100,000 or less, including non-Orthodox).

Dear John,

With the situation, as it is at present, the EU would be making a travesty of all it believes in if it were to accept Turkey in.

The Greek government, while supportive of Turkey's bid, took the step, last year, to bring the EU's attention to the plight of the Ecumenical Patriarch and to make their support of him well known.

The Ecumenical Patriarch is also supportive of Turkey's bid, hoping against hope, that this may be the only way in which the Patriarchate may be able to survive in continuation in their land. Being a persecuted 'guest'/resident of their land, I don't think that he could do otherwise, anyway. He walks on eggshells in all that he says and does on this delicate subject, and shows himself to be an exemplarary Turkish citizen, despite everything which he suffers and laments.

Personally, I am suspicious and fearful of their entry... While Turkish people are wonderful people, their nation's politics are terrible. They know that they are in a position of geo-strategic strength for the U.S., and they take advantage of it. They are well known for 'yessing' and not following through, and despite this, they get away with it all the time...so why would a leopard change its spots? I am afraid that, even if they superficially please all the criteria to enter the EU, that once they join, they will be back up to all their old tricks.

In a way, my sentiments as an Orthodox of Greek heritage, regarding Turkey's entry into the EU can be compared to being 'between a rock and a hard place'...you may be damned if they do, but damned if they don't. It is hard to know. If it were not for the EP, I would say that a Muslim nation (if it were as secular as we would like to think, they would not be persecuting Christianity), has absolutely no place in the EU. Let's face it, majority Muslim nations' identity is more their faith than any other cultural uniqueness.

For the Christians and the Ecumenical Patriarch, truly, all we can do, and should do, is pray that God will have mercy on us and help us find a solution...sometimes, in dire situations where there is no hope, only God can provide a miraculous solution. May it be so.

In Christ our Hope,
Alice

06-13-2008, 04:11 PM	#7
metropropuskruww Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 389 Senior Member	Turkey, last I heard, was vying for membership in the EU, so hopefully the Europeans will show some backbone and bar them from entering unless they start easing up on the Christian minority (which is apparently now 100,000 or less, including non-Orthodox). Dear John, With the situation, as it is at present, the EU would be making a travesty of all it believes in if it were to accept Turkey in. The Greek government, while supportive of Turkey's bid, took the step, last year, to bring the EU's attention to the plight of the Ecumenical Patriarch and to make their support of him well known. The Ecumenical Patriarch is also supportive of Turkey's bid, hoping against hope, that this may be the only way in which the Patriarchate may be able to survive in continuation in their land. Being a persecuted 'guest'/resident of their land, I don't think that he could do otherwise, anyway. He walks on eggshells in all that he says and does on this delicate subject, and shows himself to be an exemplarary Turkish citizen, despite everything which he suffers and laments. Personally, I am suspicious and fearful of their entry... While Turkish people are wonderful people, their nation's politics are terrible. They know that they are in a position of geo-strategic strength for the U.S., and they take advantage of it. They are well known for 'yessing' and not following through, and despite this, they get away with it all the time...so why would a leopard change its spots? I am afraid that, even if they superficially please all the criteria to enter the EU, that once they join, they will be back up to all their old tricks. In a way, my sentiments as an Orthodox of Greek heritage, regarding Turkey's entry into the EU can be compared to being 'between a rock and a hard place'...you may be damned if they do, but damned if they don't. It is hard to know. If it were not for the EP, I would say that a Muslim nation (if it were as secular as we would like to think, they would not be persecuting Christianity), has absolutely no place in the EU. Let's face it, majority Muslim nations' identity is more their faith than any other cultural uniqueness. For the Christians and the Ecumenical Patriarch, truly, all we can do, and should do, is pray that God will have mercy on us and help us find a solution...sometimes, in dire situations where there is no hope, only God can provide a miraculous solution. May it be so. In Christ our Hope, Alice
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